Pereira names fallback weight class if UFC denies Ciryl Gane rematch

Alex Pereira has spoken publicly about his preferred next fight and what he would do if the UFC does not grant it, revealing a fallback weight class should the promotion pass on a rematch with Ciryl Gane.

Pereira, 38, is the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion, carrying a 13-4 record into his current reign. The Brazilian out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach and has been one of the most active strikers in the division, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a 62 percent accuracy rate. His path to the top of 205 pounds has been one of the sport's more remarkable recent stories, and he has made clear that dictating his own route forward remains a priority.

Standing across from him in that proposed rematch would be Ciryl Gane, the number-two ranked heavyweight contender from France. "Bon Gamin" is 36 years old with a 14-2 record and operates out of MMA Factory. At six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach, Gane brings elite technical striking to the heavyweight division, posting 5.29 significant strikes per minute at 61 percent accuracy. A matchup between the two would represent a crossroads bout, with Pereira moving up to heavyweight to face one of the division's sharpest competitors.

Pereira has made the Gane rematch his stated first choice but has outlined an alternative weight class he would pursue if the UFC declines to book it.

Why it matters

• Pereira remains the light heavyweight champion, so any move to heavyweight would leave the 205-pound title picture unsettled
• Gane is the second-ranked heavyweight contender, meaning a Pereira matchup could complicate the division's own title queue
• Both fighters share nearly identical height and orthodox stances, making a stylistic clash between two high-volume, accurate strikers a compelling possibility at either weight